Outside the Box
On Outside the Box, Hacktivist place two voices against an almost unbending wall of guitars. J Hurley and Ben Marvin rap quickly and forcefully, while the riffs hit hard and regularly take an unexpected turn. The British grime influence gives this combination its own character. This is rap metal with more interest in rhythmic precision than in a loose rock groove.
Hate makes that approach work well. The personal aggression in the vocals gives the technical playing a clear direction. The band do not have to keep increasing the speed to sound powerful. The connection between the words and the short, firm guitar movements holds the song together.
No Way Back leans even further into heavy grooves. The guitars leave room for the rappers while retaining an active role. Buszy gives the technical side more emphasis. Riffs and vocals seem to push one another forward. In these moments, the combination feels natural and energetic, with neither style reduced to decoration.
The album is less varied as a whole. Low-tuned guitars often arrive in similar ways, and the constant emphasis on force can flatten some passages. The brief The Storm and The Storm II therefore provide welcome breathing space. The melodic, clean choruses also do not always sit comfortably beside the more aggressive rapping and stripped-back riffs.
Outside the Box works best through its commitment and the immediate exchange between voices and instruments. There are enough strong moments to make the idea more than an interesting experiment. At the same time, the execution sometimes relies on the same tools for too long. Listeners looking for forceful rap and precise guitar work will find an engaging debut here. A little more space and variety would have made the complete record stronger.
